The Surnames Of Land.

One never knows what one will find by looking at old land records. Many think they will just read about land, in a lot of cases they would be right. But in the 1700’s and early 1800’s hundreds they wanted to know who the claimant was, from these old records you can learn family names, where they came from and what their trade was and a lot more.
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District of Kaskaskia., 1811.

John Rice Jones, was a Indian.
Charles Daniel, was a Indian.
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District of Kaskaskia., 1811.
Giving testimony.

Auguste Longlois, lately resided in St. Louis, in 1784-5, must have been between 8 and ten years.

John Harris, in early times was kind of a straggling Blacksmith, in this county, and generally known by the kick-name of “Old Harry.”

Johnston Amberson, a poor wandering wretch, equally destitute of morality or character, died years ago in a drunken fit.

Daniel Thorn, a man of no education, property or character.

Solomon Thorn, brother of Daniel Thorn, and alike in property, character, a gunsmith by trade, and never stays in one place long.
In 1786, he made a settlement east of the Mississippi rive, about four miles above the Pesaw, where he built a small house and smith’s shop; cleared and cultivated about four acres of corn, lives in Illinois county.
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Antoine Cotineau.

Antoine Cotineau, was about nineteen in 1788, that he was a single man and he did not get married nor keep house either in 1783 or 1788, always lived in other families, that he got married in 1803, and stills resides in Prairie du Rocher; other witness state that Cotineau was not married in 1788; that he lived with deponent in Prairie du Rocher, but he had houses and lot of his own at the time, and before but did not reside in either of them; that said Cotineau, on and before that year worked on his own account as a farmer; had cattle, horses, and other stock of his own; that the corn and other produce he raised he deposited in the houses on his own lot; that his stock was always fed and wintered on his own premises.
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Jacque Boutellet.

Jacque Boutellet, was married in Prairie du Rocher, in 1791, his father died in Prairie du Rocher, in 1771.
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Michel Chartran.

Michel Chartran, in 1783, was living in Illinois county, had two children by a Indian woman, always lived with his mother, and never kept house.
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District of Vincennes.

Militia Donations and Militia Grants.

The year recorded 1812.

Charles Finley, came to Vincennes in 1786, stayed about six months, then went away, returned to Vincennes with the Kentucky Militia, who went with Colonel Hamtramck, against the Indians up the Wabash, in 1790.

Jean Baptiste Foizy, lived in Vincennes in 1786, did militia duty, went with General Clark, against the Indians, he left the county in 1787, and never returned.

Charles Lognon, was a trader and kept a store at Vincennes, when the Americans took over the country; was a single man, and lived with his brother; he would marry and live in Vincennes for a while then he left, no one knows when.

Charles La Foy, lived in Vincennes, before and after the Americans took over the country, was a single man, had cattle and kept house with a Dr. Oliver who was also a single man.

Jean Baptiste Langlois, militia duty at Vincennes, twenty-one years ago, next September, ( to wit, September 1790), in Captain Edeline’s company, remained as a private till about fourteen or fifteen years ago, he has continued in the county ever since.

Luke Matson, did militia duty in the summer of 1790, at the river Dechis station, about six miles from Vincennes, was born about 1778, at such a tender age his service as a militiaman, could not be of any real importance.

Alexis Rouleaux, lived at Vincennes, before and after the Americans took over the country, was a blacksmith, and kept a shop of his own, was a single man.

Jacob Pea, did militia duty at Vincennes from 1785-1787, then left, no one knows when.

Joseph Patterson, was a militiaman at Vincennes, in 1786, was wounded by Indians at the battle on Embarras Creek, in the same year; stayed at Vincennes some time then went away to have his wound cured, and has since died.

Pierre Borgne, came to Vincennes a soldier under General Clark, in 1779.

Samuel Bradley, came to Vincennes in 1785, lived and did militia duty until, 1788, went to Illinois and returned in 1789; that he went to Kentucky to join his family, whom he moved to Vienna on Green river, that he came to Vincennes on business in July or August 1790, where he was detained until October, waiting for company to return home with. He was ordered to go on Colonel Hamtramck’s expedition, in that year, he was seen on the parade, with his gun on his shoulder but did not go.

John Baylis or Bayless, came to Vincennes as an officer under General Clark; that he married in the winter of 1780 or 81, and went to live in a house with his wife in the back part of town, but whether he resign his commission is not known.

Josette Fauvelle was the wife of Jean Ravelet, who left Vincennes about 1777, leaving his wife and family behind and never returned; she left Vincennes before Captain Helms took possession of the country, that was in June of 1778.

Alexander Wilson, came to Vincennes in 1784, he lived and did militia duty until 1786, when he was killed by Indians in the Embarras engagement.

Daniel Sullivan, came to Vincennes in 1785, where he did militia duty until, 1790, in the month of April of that year, was killed by Indians.

Jacob Tevebaugh, came to Vincennes in 1785, where he did militia duty until, 1790, in the month of April of that year, was killed by Indians, with Daniel Sullivan.

Joseph Pancake, was a militiaman at Vincennes in 1781, was under the command of John Small’s command, in the same year, at the engagement with the Indians on Embarras, he was killed.

Jacob Howell, was a militiaman, at Vincennes in 1786, he was in command of a party at the engagement with Indians at Embarras, and was killed.

Authors note. This information came from the book of Public Lands Volume 2., 1809-1815, which is housed at the Library of Congress.